J-school students recognized by UNC for commitment to diversity

A UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media doctoral student and a student organization led by an undergraduate journalism major were recognized with University-wide diversity awards given by the UNC Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs.

Joseph Erba, a third-year doctoral student and Roy H. Park Fellow, received the graduate student diversity award for his commitment to diversity in his research, teaching and public service. Erba specializes in strategic and intercultural communication, focusing on the relationship between media portrayals of racial minorities and racial minority students’ college experiences. His dissertation examines the experiences of Latino male undergraduate students at a predominately white public university. Findings from his research may promote a better understanding of the role media play in minority students’ college experiences and assist university administrators to enhance intercultural relationships on campus.

Erba serves on the advisory board for Latino Journalism and Media at Carolina (Latijam) and volunteers to help local Latino youth produce Radio Latijam, a Spanish-language radio program on WCOM FM 103.5.

Viviana Bonilla Lopez, a rising junior in the J-school, will accept a diversity award on behalf of Rethink: Psychiatric Illness, a student organization dedicated to raising awareness and educating others about metal health issues. The group also designed a skills-training event — much like UNC’s Safe Zone — that will prepare UNC students to become Rethink Ambassadors and make UNC a safer place for students and community members with mental illnesses. Lopez co-founded and leads the group with fellow undergraduate Stephanie Nieves Rios.

Lopez is an alumna of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media’s Chuck Stone Program for Diversity in Education and Media, an intensive weeklong summer workshop in journalism and mass communication for 12 talented high students from diverse backgrounds across the U.S. The Chuck Stone Program won a 2011 University Diversity Award.

The awards will be presented at a reception on April 25 at 2 p.m. at the Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence on the UNC campus.

The University Diversity Award recognizes significant contribution to the enhancement, support and/or furtherance of diversity on the campus and in the community. The award is given annually in seven categories that include faculty, staff, undergraduate student, graduate/professional student, student organization, unit/school and community member.